Judge rules in favor of safe injection sites; blocks I-27 from getting on the ballot

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

SEATTLE — A King County judge on Monday ruled an initiative calling for the banning of safe injection sites would not be allowed on the ballot in February.

The ruling is a win for Seattle and King County leaders who have been fighting to create two safe injection sites.

Opponents of safe injection sites gathered tens of thousands of signatures qualifying I-27 to get on the February ballot.

But supporters of safe injection sites then petitioned the court to block I-27.

Superior Court Judge Veronica Alicea Galvan ruled that Initiative 27 extends beyond the scope of the initiative power. She ordered that it not be placed on the February ballot. The judge wrote that the Supreme Court has recognized the broad authority public health officials have in protecting public health.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The heroin and opioid epidemic is affecting many people, including King County Council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

The idea is to have health officials monitor users but also encourage treatment onsite.

“Any such site would open up in a hot spot where there are known addicts,” Kohl-Welles said.

Opponents say safe injection sites will worsen the epidemic.

“They are giving these addicts the ability to destroy themselves and hurt themselves further,” said David Stockton, who works with recovering addicts at John Volken Academy, a local rehabilitation program.